June 3 primary election filing period begins in L.A. County

This July 13, 2013 file photo shows L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky joining the Village Gardeners of the Los Angeles River as they broke ground for North Valleyheart Riverwalk project in Studio City, Calif. (Photo by John McCoy/LA Daily News/File)

This July 26, 2012 file photo shows Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina as Grand Park welcomed more than 4,500 people who danced together in celebration of National Dance Day during the park’s inaugural weekend in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo by John McCoy/LA Daily News/File)

LOS ANGELES - The filing period began Monday for the June 3 primary election, which will lead to what is likely the biggest influx of newcomers to Los Angeles County government.

With term limits approved by voters in 2002 taking effect for the first time, Los Angeles County Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky and Gloria Molina are barred from seeking re-election.

Former state Sen. Sheila Kuehl and former Santa Monica Mayor Bobby Shriver have declared their candidacies for the Third District seat held by Yaroslavsky since 1994, as have West Hollywood Councilman John Duran and former Malibu Mayor Pamela Conley Ulich.

Former Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and El Monte Councilman Juventino “J” Gomez have said they will run for the First District seat held by Molina since 1991.

Gardena Mayor Paul Tanaka, a former undersheriff, and former Cmdr. Bob Olmsted were running even before Baca’s announcement. Former Lt. Patrick Gomez, as well as assistant sheriffs Todd Rogers and James Hellmold and Los Angeles police detective Lou Vince are also among those who have announced plans to run.

With Assessor John Noguez on a leave of absence since 2012 in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation that would lead to his being charged with 24 felony counts, West Hollywood Councilman Jeffrey Prang announced his candidacy to head the office responsible for establishing a taxable value for all county property subject to taxation.

The June 3 ballot will include primaries for governor, seven other statewide offices, four seats on the Board of Equalization, all of California’s 53 congressional seats, 20 of the 40 state Senate seats and all 80 seats in the Assembly.

The county’s most contested congressional races will be in the 33rd District in the Westside and South Bay and 25th District in the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys.

Former Los Angeles City Controller Wendy Greuel and Sen. Ted Lieu, D- Torrance, are the leading candidates to succeed Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Beverly Hills, in the 33rd District. A third Democrat, attorney Barbara Mulvaney announced last week that she was also running. Self-help author Marianne Williamson and television director and executive Brent Roske both declared their candidacies as independents before Waxman announced his retirement.

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Former state Sen. Tony Strickland, and Sen. Steve Knight, both Republicans, and Democrats Dr. Lee Rogers, a podiatrist, and Jorge Puentes, are seeking to succeed the retiring Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, in the 25th District.

The state and congressional offices will be contested under the “top two” system for the second time. Under terms of Proposition 14, approved by voters in 2010, all candidates running for congressional, legislative and statewide offices, regardless of party, will appear on a single ballot. The top two finishers will advance to the November general election.

Proposition 14 also gives candidates the right to decline to have their party stated on the ballot.

The filing period will close March 7, but will be extended to March 12 for offices where no incumbent files, except for those where the incumbent cannot seek re-election because of term limits.